Religion News: ... and many more

Hal Pope of Hilton Head Island has said he wants to live to be at least 112 so that he could break a world record. Now it looks like he'll have to live to be 114, a record recently set by a Japanese man.

Fortunately, Pope only has a few more years to reach his goal -- he just turned 108 on Wednesday,

He does hold at least one record. He is the oldest living graduate of Harvard University. Harvard University magazine lists Pope as the oldest alumni. He graduated in 1925 and received his master's in business administration in 1927. Pope eventually retired from Union Carbide where he converted accounting from paper to computers. His retirement was spent traveling to Europe, gardening and visiting his grandchildren. Until he was 92, he traveled on airplanes, but gave up air travel for driving his Lincoln Continental, which he drove until he was 98.

Born in Kansas City, Mo. in 1903, he was the only child of Horace and Aileen Pope. Pope often related stories during the seven summers he spent as a cowboy on his aunt and uncle's ranch in Colorado to Perin Schultz, one of his five grandchildren. Pope has outlived both of his biological children, but has three stepchildren, stepgrandchildren and many great-great-grandchildren.

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Pope has been a member of the different churches -- Presbyterian, Methodist and Unitarian -- attended by the three wives he has outlived. He was honored Aug. 21 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry in Bluffton by his stepdaughter, Judy Busch. In June 1990, Pope was 83 when he married his third wife, Garnette Johnson Pope, then 72, in the Lowcountry church. They were married a few weeks shy of 20 years before Judy's death.

Busch and Schultz also held a celebration for Pope's birthday Aug. 22 where he lives at The Cypress. In the early 1990s, Pope and Garnette were among the first residents of the condos at The Cypress.

Busch credits moderation for Pope's longevity.

"He would have a glass of wine before dinner, quit smoking after about seven years when he found out it was bad for you, walked and played tennis and square danced and was always eating everything in moderation," Busch said. "He also said his mother did not fry food."

Transient Ischemic Attacks have taken his ability to speak clearly, but Pope is often overheard talking in his sleep to a higher power.

"I'm sure he and the Lord are personal friends," Busch said.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF BEAUFORT

A permanent labyrinth will be available for walking meditation from 10-11 a.m. today. The walk will be led by Frances Kuzinski as facilitator in the Buddhist tradition. The walking meditation will have readings appropriate for children to walk alone or with their families. Others who would like to walk today are asked to leave their name on the church answering machine, 843-838-1399.

The last in the Standing on the Side of Love series, "Immigration: Welcoming a Stranger" will be presented at 10 a.m. Sunday by George Kanuck. Kanuck is co-founder of the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition.

The Founder's Fellowship Dinner is at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Pastor Jeanette Harley will speak. Tickets are on sale at 843-575-2031 or 843-575-0526.

The church is at 1311 Congress St., Beaufort.

Details: 843-575-0526

PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, HILTON HEAD ISLAND

An appreciation fellowship in honor of Dr. Mike and Gina Armistead is at noon Sunday. Mike's final Sunday as parish associate will be Sept. 4. He will become the pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, N.C.

The church is at 171 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

Details: 843-842-5673

ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Christal Brown-Gibson, named 2006 Female Vocalist of the Year by Newsome Gospel in Baltimore, will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday at the church. Brown-Gibson has been a featured artist for the 2005, 2008 MOJA Arts Festival in Charleston as well as the 2003, 2005 Spoleto Festival USA. The concert is part of the outreach ministry of The Biblical Family Center in Charleston, which ministers to the Eastside Charleston Community, especially to the boys and girls through its programs "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" and "Sticks n' Stones" (for boys). The concert is free and open to the public. A reception follows in the St. Luke's Parish Hall. The church is at 50 Pope Ave., Hilton Head Island.

Details: Nina Rodman, minister of music, 843-785-4099, ext. 237

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH

The church's 139th anniversary celebration concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday with the Rev. Abraham Murray, pastor of Brick Baptist Church, as speaker. The church is at 36 Friendship Lane, Coosaw Island.

Details: 843-521-4419

THE SHEPHERD'S HOUSE MINISTRIES

A Back to School Youth Explosion begins at 6 p.m. Sunday. The theme is "Taking Over for the Kingdom; Let's Move Now for It's Our Set Time and Moment to Answer the Call." Evangelist Verdell Fulton Jr. of Friendship Holiness Church will speak. Guests are the Anointed Heavenly Angels of Luray, Meekness of the Spirit Mime and Dance Teams, and others. The church is at 15 Sheldon Baptist Church Drive, Sheldon.

Details: 843-575-5524

RESURRECTION CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH

The church will present an evening of worship music featuring Tim Malchak, national recording artist, at 7 p.m. Sunday . Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The church has added five new pastors to its staff: the Rev. Dr. John Tierno of Long Island, N.Y., associate pastor; Pastor Wendy Driggers of Chandler, Ariz., associate pastor congregational care; the Rev Daniel Sanchez of Chile and Reading, Pa., associate pastor Hispanic ministries; the Rev. Derek Godfrey of Winston-Salem, N.C., associate pastor media and technology; and Pastor Sholanda Kennard of Charlotte, intern pastor children and youth.

Mary Scovel, a music therapist, will discuss "The Miracle of Music" at 10 a.m. Sunday. The church is at 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton.

Details: 843-837-3330

LUNCH HOUR OF POWER

The Rev. Mary B. Smith, pastor of Calvary AME Church in Jacksonboro, will speak from noon-12:45 p.m. Wednesday in Helen Galloway's Memorial Chapel of Chisholm Galloway Home for Funerals, 808 Bladen St., Beaufort.

Details: 843-524-6634

THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS

A mini music camp for ages K5-sixth grade will be from 4-5:30 p.m. on Sept. 6, Sept. 13 and Sept. 20 at the Calhoun Street campus. The children's music ministry teaches children to praise the Lord through music and song, games and activities, and prayer. In addition, the children also learn music theory, and they are encouraged to develop their own voice and skills during the regular choral program from September through May. Participants are encouraged to register now. The program is free and open to the public

Details: 843-757-2661

FAITH MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH

Minister Martin Wright will be ordained at 4 p.m. Sept. 4. The church is at 28 Lands End Road, St. Helena Island.

Details: 843-525-6799, 843-838-2362

UNITY CHURCH OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND

The Rev. Pat Jobe will speak at Unity Church of Hilton Head Island at the 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services Sept. 4 at Hampton Inn & Suites in Bluffton. The message is "I'm Sorry. Forgive me. Thank you. I Love you." Jobe is a 12-year veteran of pastoral ministry and is currently serving as minister of the Greenville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. He is the author or co-author of four books.

The 13-week Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Sept. 13 in the music room. Cost is $100 per family for lifetime membership and all materials. The first lesson can be free, though registration is recommended by Sept. 5. Child care will be available. Register at the Providence office by calling 843-842-5673. The church is at 171 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head.